MSW Spirit of Social Work Award winner Karleigh Conway talks about life and the importance of social work
As far back as she can remember, Karleigh Conway has always loved hearing people’s stories. Whether they were about dreams, passions, hurts or recovery, she drank them all in. She hadn’t realized it yet, but her compassion and curiosity were already preparing her for a life in social work.
“As I grew, so did my curiosity and love for community,” Conway said. “Caring for others and pursuing intentional interactions has been an integral piece of who I am. My love for storytelling quickly was translated into a love of knowledge.”
Conway is a native Coloradoan, born in Gunnison, in the “towering San Juan mountains”, but attending high school in Montrose, Colorado, it is after she graduated and started college, that her gifts and skills really started to take off.
“My education at a Christian liberal arts university allowed me to understand that all truth is God’s truth, there is no separation between sacred and secular, and there is beauty in all of creation, including relationships,” she said. “The incredible educators at my alma mater inspired me with their persistence to share their love in teaching me to not fall silent in the face of injustice and to understand that it is okay to be uncomfortable, but not afraid, when pursuing truth.”
After Conway completed her undergraduate degree, studying communications, fine art and psychology, she worked in a number of unique job positions including RightNow Media, Magnolia’s creative executive team, and even a public relations officer at the Methodist Children’s Home. During her time with these companies, Conway says she started leaning into difficult spaces, hungry to learn more, and eager for deep and meaningful relationships and interactions with individuals and the communities around her.
Karleigh stood out among her peers as a compassionate force, advocate and compassionate friend. Karleigh demonstrated a sincere commitment to social work values and the Garland School of Social Work by embodying social work holistically through their lifestyle and service, especially in how she is able to integrate her deep love for social work with her other areas of interest and education including art, strategic communication and theology. Karleigh championed social work advocacy within the GSSW, and the greater Waco community as she creatively critically thinks, speaks and acts.
“I believe taking a step into the dual MDiv/MSW program at Baylor was an act of faithfulness filled with hope toward living into the gifts and dreams placed upon my heart and ignited in my core,” she said.
And stepping out in faith is exactly what she did. Conway was the first of her family to go to Baylor, and the first to earn an MSW. She chose to specialize in clinical practice for her degree and specialized in Integrated Behavioral Health while also working toward a Master of Divinity as well.
Conway had two internships while at the GSSW. During her generalist year, she interned at Community Health Care of Texas where she “worked to establish professional relationships with palliative care patients and their families provide case management, education, legacy work and goals of care in efforts to promote dignity in the dying process.”
“I collaborated with palliative care social workers and other disciplines to provide an interdisciplinary, individualized plan of care for each client and family system. I assisted with resource development including the use of evidence-based models for providing social and emotional support to patients and end-of-life caregivers. Lastly, I constructed informational resources to address gaps in service and access to care for vulnerable populations,” Conway said.
In her advanced clinical year, Conway interned at Waco Family Medicine in the Family and Children Counseling Services Program. There, Conway worked to “implement individual and group psychotherapy to children and adults.” She said she had to work with people with a broad range of treatment needs contributing to the 61,394 patients the program served.
“I coordinated targeted interventions for depression and trauma, to broader needs such as adjustment to family conflict, life adjustment issues, grief, and stress. I also represented the agency to community agencies, professionals, and the community at large through formal and informal means,” Conway said.
While at Baylor, Conway has been involved in a number of jobs and organizations including as a Bear Care Coach where she provided case management for Baylor undergraduate students addressing immediate mental, physical and financial needs referring student-qualifying students to Care Team Services in Student Health and Welfare. She also served as a volunteer at Day Spring church and earned membership into the Phi Alpha Honor Society.
Those who worked closely with Conway had this to say about her: “Karleigh truly embodies the Spirit of Social Work through her engagement in and beyond the classroom. Karleigh stood out among her peers as a compassionate force, advocate and compassionate friend. Karleigh demonstrated a sincere commitment to social work values and the Garland School of Social Work by embodying social work holistically through their lifestyle and service, especially in how she is able to integrate her deep love for social work with her other areas of interest and education including art, strategic communication and theology. Karleigh championed social work advocacy within the GSSW, and the greater Waco community as she creatively critically thinks, speaks and acts."
When asked about what kind of advice she wanted to leave for upcoming students, Conway said that she wanted students to be “openhanded”.
“Strive to live in an active posture of openhandedness, receptive to any opportunity to recognize restorative movement in the world,” she said.
Conway graduated in May and said she feels “grounded” in Waco and “has fallen for its charm and grit”. She plans on establishing a foundation in Waco and hopes to “spread her roots” here.
“[I hope to pursue my LCSW and become certified in EMDR.] Considering my past and the moments that stir something within me, I believe that my future vocation will be in a space where I will get to encounter those who have gone through trauma and are seeking healing. At this point in my life, I can see myself in private practice, within a hospital, or on the front lines of disaster-stricken areas,” she said. “Overall, I am passionate about holistic healing and using creativity and eclectic tools as ways to express our emotions and share our stories.”
Congratulations, Karleigh! Your spirit is an outward expression of the award you’ve earned. Sic ‘Em!
For more information about how you might earn your degree in social work and learn how to help and empower people, click here to check out what we have to offer, or email SWO@baylor.edu.